EDITORIAL PROPER
05
WHAT AWAITS US It is ironic how a country that in South, East, and Southeast grants the right to life threatens Asia” in 2020, the agriculture and its constituents at every turn. manufacturing sectors dropped to their lowest point in decades. As schools nationwide commenced Plus, the inflation rate rose to 4.9% their graduation ceremonies, between March and April, the highest another batch of bright, young since December 2018. Our economy minds marched onto the stage is on the brink of collapse, taking and into the next chapter of their with it the livelihoods of millions. lives. Although the prestige of holding a diploma and medals will Furthermore, human rights not outweigh the looming dread violations in the country have of facing a broken society. Thus, it severely worsened. None can is our duty as the youth to use our forget “Bloody Sunday”, where nine education to recognize the need for activists were shot dead and six and initiate change, lest our nation more were arrested by the police be left to die by its own hands. and military across Calabarzon. Such endeavors for progressive thinking are quickly mocked as being “woke.” The exchange between Ben Tulfo and Kakie Pangilinan about rape culture inspired the # HijaAko movement and the go-to rebuttals of “bata ka pa lang” and “mag-aral ka na lang” when prodded for valid arguments are reflective of this. But it is impossible to stay silent in the face of rampant injustice. The incumbent administration pushed policies that trampled on human rights in the name of industrial progress. Academics are red-tagged and killed without due process. Indigenous people are being forced out of their land. Lawmakers pretend to have their hands tied by the very laws they created. The police are more threatened by social activism than corruption within their ranks. And these systemic problems have far-reaching consequences. Economic think tank Ibon Foundation stated that the country is currently experiencing its weakest economic state in the post-war era. On top of having suffered the“second biggest economic contraction
environment is another. The nearinfinite resources available on our screens still cannot replace the value of in-person experiences and interactions. After all, learning does not just mean academic growth. As we go on facing the real world, we will have to adapt to the changing reality of the new normal. Considering what awaits us, it is tempting to resign ourselves to apathy. However, we owe it to our predecessors and contemporaries to continue fighting for what is right. In a letter to his Economics 118 students, UP Professor Emeritus Emmanuel de Dios wrote that we are all called to “defend the freedoms we already have by using them to the full.” Our diversity of skills and circumstances allows us to contribute in numerous ways. Be it through joining volunteer groups, correcting lies online, or using your talents to make your voice heard, do your part for the people.
Meanwhile, in Cebu City, a group of seven from a school housing displaced indigenous communities were arrested without a warrant and detained for three months. Alarmingly, the legislature has pending bills trying to reinstate the death penalty, as if the over 30,000 victims of the war on drugs still weren’t enough. While we may not be able to control these problems, we can control how Even basic equality has a long way we respond to them. Take to heart our to go. The country now ranks 17th core values of concern, responsibility, in the World Economic Forum’s service, faith, and integrity, for Global Gender Gap Index—a far cry these zwill help us discern how from 5th under Noynoy Aquino’s to navigate the uncertain times administration. Congress also failed ahead. The challenge of being a to pass the Sexual Orientation and good person will only grow harder, Gender Identity Equality (SOGIE) but it will be one worth facing for Bill into law due to prevailing ourselves and our community. misconceptions that it seeks to create an elite class over the “straights” Finally, we must continue to hold when in fact, it aims to protect those in power accountable for their everyone from discrimination. actions. If we are supposed to be the hope of the nation, then they What makes these all the more must ensure that there will remain worrying is that online classes have a nation worth fighting for. We were left us underprepared. Settling for born with the right to life; we now minimum learning competencies demand a chance to live. to keep up with once-a-week synchronous classes per subject is one thing, but the shift in the
